"The State of Israel ... will ensure complete equality of social and political
rights of all its inhabitants irrespective of religion ... it will guarantee freedom
of religion and conscience." - May 1948)

Confronting injustice in the realm of religion and state

Hiddush on the battlefront

This week we started action on behalf of a former Haredi man who is serving in the IDF and faces discrimination, as well as on behalf of a school and a PTA who have confronted a zealous religious fundamentalist who is trying to tempt their students to "experience Judaism" his way.

Hiddush continues to be active on the legal front, lending help to individuals and groups that confront injustice or other challenges in the realm of religion and state.

This week we started action on behalf of a former Haredi man who is serving in the IDF and faces discrimination, as well as on behalf of a school and a PTA who have confronted a zealous religious fundamentalist who is trying to tempt their students to "experience Judaism" his way.

In the first case we were approached by a young man who turned away from Haredi life and decided to enlist in the IDF and pursue a new path. One of the problems young people like him face is the lack of general education (math, science, English), which makes it practically impossible for them to find good jobs and provide for themselves. The State and the IDF have in recent years developed programs aimed at providing frameworks for catching up on basic education for Haredi young men who enlist in special IDF programs developed for Haredi men who serve in the special Haredi-only army units. These combine strict religious observance with military service, for those who plan to seek work after they complete their service. However, they do not offer these same educational opportunities to young men and women who have decided to leave Haredi life and enlist in the general army.

They are helping young men catch up the missing education needed to find a job if they remain Haredi, but not if they leave ultra-Orthodoxy.

Namely - they are helping young men catch up the missing education needed to find a job if they remain Haredi, but not if they leave ultra-Orthodoxy. In both instances, the individuals lack basic educational skills, because of the nature of Haredi education that refuses to incorporate core curricular studies in their schools, as well as the government's refusal to require such education when funding ultra-Orthodox schools for boys. However, the opportunity to catch up is only given to those who choose to remain Haredi.

Hiddush is turning to the IDF on our young client’s behalf, demanding that they stop this discrimination and offer the educational program regardless of the current religious observance of the individual. Furthermore, we demand that the problem, which is shared by dozens of other soldiers, be addressed so that they may also realize their right for government-funded basic education.

In the second case, we were approached by parents and the administration of a prestigious high school in Jerusalem, who have been fighting (without success) several individuals, belonging to Chabad (although they claim not to be affiliated with any organized Chabad group or community). These individuals have "set up shop" across from the school and “reach out” to the students as they leave school (they have even started approaching them via WhatsApp and social networks). Naturally, all of this is without the parents' consent.

This Chabad group offers 13- and 14-year olds (for some reason, they seem to eschew older students) all kinds of "incentives" (vouchers for clothing items, ice cream parlors, pizzas, etc.) if they come to study Torah and participate in Chabad religious activities. The authorities, when approached, all shirked responsibility. We are now working in cooperation with the school administration to put a stop to this outrageous situation.